Explanation
Exercises

🟦 Present Perfect vs 🟧 Past Simple

Choose between “have/has + V3” (connected to now) and “V2” (finished at a past time).
just · already · yet · ever/never for · since · how long yesterday · last … · in 2019 · ago details → past simple
⚖️Core contrast

Present Perfect — relevant now

USE We don’t say when; it’s recent, newsy, or part of life experience.
  • I’ve finished my homework. (It’s done now.)
  • My teacher has sent a new task. (I can see it now.)
  • We’ve learned ten new words today. 📚
  • I’ve lost my pen. (I need it now.)

Past Simple — finished then

USE We say/ask when something happened; time is finished.
  • When did you finish your homework?
  • I sent the email after lunch.
  • We didn’t study yesterday.
  • She learned to swim when she was ten.
💬In conversation: PP → details in PS
  • Anna: I’ve watched an English video.
    Max: What did you watch?
    Anna: I watched a short lesson about travel.
  • Tom: I’ve made a mistake in the test.
    Kate: What did you write?
    Tom: I wrote “goes” instead of “go”.
⏳Duration: for / since / how long
UNFINISHED TIME → Present Perfect
  • I’ve studied English for two years. (I study now.)
  • How long have you lived in this city?
Patterns
  • for + period: for 2 weeks / for 10 years
  • since + start point: since 2010 / since Monday / since I was 15
FINISHED TIME → Past Simple
  • I studied English for one year at school. (I don’t study there now.)
  • How long did you work at that café? (You don’t work there now.)
🧭Time expressions (choose wisely)

Present Perfect ✅

  • just, already, yet
  • ever, never, before
  • recently, lately
  • today / this week / this month (period incl. now)

Past Simple ✅

  • yesterday, last night/week/year
  • in 2019, on Monday, at 6 p.m.
  • … ago (two days ago)
  • when…? (When did you…?)
🚫Common mistakes
  • ❌ I’ve watched this film yesterday.
    ✅ I watched this film yesterday. / I’ve watched this film before. (no time)
  • ❌ How long did you live here? (if you still live here)
    ✅ How long have you lived here?
  • ❌ I haven’t done my homework already.
    ✅ I haven’t done my homework yet. / I have already done my homework.
  • ❌ Did you ever study English online?
    ✅ Have you ever studied English online?
✅Quick checks
  • No time stated / relevant now? → Present Perfect
  • Specific past time or “when…?” → Past Simple
  • Starting in the past & still true? → Present Perfect (+ for/since)
  • Finished period? → Past Simple
🧪More natural examples
  • We’ve practised speaking a lot. → What topic did you talk about first?
  • I’ve forgotten my password. (I can’t log in now.)
  • I started this course in 2024. (finished past time)
Recap: Present Perfect = past → now connection (no finished time). Past Simple = a finished past moment, often with a time word or a “when” question. 🌟
Exercises:
1
2
3

Present Perfect vs Past Simple

D1Old friends

A:I Maria yesterday evening. B:Oh really? I her for ages.

D2Lost & found

A: your keys yet? B:Yes, I them under the sofa a minute ago.

D3Weekend plan

A:What at the weekend? B:I to the mountains.

D4Travel chat

A: to Italy? B:Yes, I there in 2019.

D5How long?

A:We since primary school. B:Really? I you before university.

Present Perfect vs Past Simple

1
ALEX: (you/ever/try) Ethiopian food?
2
PRIYA: Yes, I (try) it last month.
3
ALEX: I (never/eat) injera before — this is my first time.
4
PRIYA: We (go) to a small place in Little Cairo yesterday.
5
It (be) great.
6
ALEX: Cool! I (already/book) a table for tonight.
7
PRIYA: Nice. How long (you/know) that restaurant?
8
ALEX: I (discover) it in 2019.
9
At that time I (live) on King Street.
10
PRIYA: Great. I (not/try) their vegan platter yet — can we order it?